A couple of Fridays ago I was lucky enough to go to the MADS Awards 2015.
A real case of –
‘Yes Cinderella — you shall go to the ball!’
The finalists were announced earlier in the year. And when I saw my blog’s name in that list — I absolutely couldn’t believe my eyes. Such a shock (in a good way).
Although I’ve been writing my blog for almost 3 years, I only recently made the move to a self hosted site. I decided to start taking the whole thing a bit more seriously — at the start of this year.
So on January 9th, my new self-hosted site was purchased.
I’m not entirely sure how long it took me to make it look presentable! And switch from the free WordPress to the one you see today. But it’s been a lot of hard work over the last few months, that’s for sure.
Instead of posting every few weeks, I’ve been posting 3 or 4 times a week. Been taking on lots of crafty projects that require ridiculous amounts of time and effort.
Like the birdhouse upcycle I posted last week or the little shoe-rack that I turned into a bench-seat.
I’ve learned to create movies. No mean feat either; to begin with there was much swearing as I couldn’t work out how to use the editing software!! ;) I’m really proud of the little film I made for Camp Bestival and I’m learning how to vlog too. Here’s my latest attempt :)
I’ve been made an ambassador for some fabulous brands and reviewed some fantastic products along the way too.
All in all, the last 8 months have been a whirlwind.
Juggling the blog. Working part time for my design business. Looking after twin toddlers. Plus everything else that life throws at us has been pretty tricky. Some days most days I feel like a hamster on a wheel. I love my blog — and I take everything about it pretty seriously. The writing, photography, content but, boy, it’s time consuming. And when you’re already short on time, it can be pretty exhausting at times.
So to make that final was awesome.
A real treat and a lovely reward for all the hard work.
Some of my blogging bests — Julia, Karen and Sarah — and I, got to stay in a lovely apartment in Kensington for the night, courtesy of the lovely folk at Citybase Apartments.
I got to have my hair done by the amazing Powder Puff Girls — and drink Prosecco. Very spoiling and very much appreciated!! :)
Plus I met some really lovely bloggers for the first time; some that I’ve commented on their blogs regularly plus some new faces.
I also got to catch up with some lovely folk who I’d previously met at Britmums or BlogCamp, earlier in the year.
And whilst I didn’t win a prize, it really was a big enough treat just to be there.
I seem to have found myself in a sub-culture that I never knew existed! A lovely industry — with lovely people — and I feel so proud to be a part of it.
Congratulations to all the prizewinners — particularly my friend Karen who’s blog Mini Travellers scooped the prize for Best Travel Blog and Hayley, who won the award for Outstanding Contribution, with her blog Downside Up. She’s been instrumental in bringing awareness — and changing people’s perceptions — to Down’s Syndrome.
All in all it was a fabulous event.
Finger’s crossed I’ll be lucky enough to go again next year! :)
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
OMG, someone else who loves ‘Gone with the Wind’…I’ve watched the movie about a hundred times (give or take!) and now I’m reading the book! (Great vlog, by the way;-) ) Also, congratulations on your blog nomination – such an achievement. #TwinklyTuesday
Aah thanks so much!! And yep — me too. I absolutely LOVE that film!!! :) x
It really was a great night wasn’t it? Loved hanging out with you and the other girls — we’re a lucky group aren’t we? Hope we’ll all be up for awards next year :) xx